Senior_Human_Rights_Advisor_SOL-519-16-000005.pdf

ATTACHMENT 1

SOL-519-16-000005

Senior Human Rights Advisor

USAID/EL SALVADOR

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

1. SOLICITATION NUMBER: SOL-519-16-000005

2. ISSUANCE DATE: March 9, 2016

3. CLOSING DATE/TIME: March 22, 2016

(5:00 pm El Salvador/Local Time)

4. POSITION TITLE: Senior Human Rights Advisor

5. MARKET VALUE: GS-14 (US $87,263 to US $113,444) The standard compensation package also includes a contribution for life and health insurance and a contribution to FICA. If the selected candidate qualifies as an off-shore hire under USAID regulations, the employee will receive post differential approved for San Salvador, El Salvador, (currently set at the rate 15% of base pay), housing, international travel, shipment benefits, and other applicable allowances. If the selected candidate is a resident hire under USAID regulations (a U.S.

citizen who, at the time of hiring as a PSC, resides in El Salvador), then s/he will not be eligible for any fringe benefits (except contributions for FICA, health insurance and life insurance), allowances or differentials (AIDAR, Appendix D).

Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value based upon the successful candidate’s salary history, work experience and educational background.

Salaries over and above the top of the pay range will not be entertained or negotiated.

6. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: Two (2) years, pending availability of funding.

7. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: San Salvador, El Salvador.

8. CLEARANCES: The selected candidate must be able to obtain a

Security Clearance, and a Medical Clearance within a reasonable period of time. If such clearances are not obtained within a reasonable time or negative suitability issues are involved, any offer may be rescinded.

If a U.S. Citizen, the apparently successful applicant shall be required to obtain a “Secret” level Security

Clearance as a pre-condition for employment. For a

TCN, an “Employment Authorization’ is required as a pre-condition for employment.

9. AREA OF CONSIDERATION: U.S. Citizens and Third Country Nationals.

10. POINT OF CONTACT: Ingrid Brito

Executive Office, USAID/El Salvador

Telephone: (503) 2501-3150 Fax: (503) 2298-0885

E-mail: ibrito@usaid.gov

11. STATEMENT OF WORK:

a. Background

The alignment of the Central America Strategy and the corresponding Northern

Triangle countries’ (Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador) Alliance for Prosperity

Initiative presents an unprecedented opportunity for partnership between the United

States and Northern Triangle states to join forces to combat high levels of crime and associated gang violence while furthering respect for human rights and the rule of law. With the announcement of significant new investments for the region, the

United States is accelerating efforts to support stronger democratic institutions, especially police, justice systems, and civil society organizations; and cooperating in building strong communities resistant to the influence of gang violence. Investments will also contribute to reducing push factors that contributed to the unprecedented levels of child migration from Central America to the United States in 2014.

Under the Partnership for Growth (PfG) Presidential Initiative, particularly Goals 1-2 which are focused on strengthening justice sector institutions and improving the effectiveness of criminal justice procedures, USAID is partnering with the

Government of El Salvador and civil society to promote the rule of law by supporting

El Salvador’s implementation of comprehensive criminal-justice reforms. More specifically, USAID is training justice sector operators including judges, police, prosecutors, lawyers and other justice officials to improve coordination, case management and evidence based criminal investigations to reduce the high levels of impunity and decrease the incidence of gender based violence.

The USAID/El Salvador/Central America Mission Human Rights Advisor will serve as the senior professional responsible for the provision of comparative technical perspectives and the operational guidance for USAID activities in regional justice sector reform and human rights aligned under the Central America (CEN) Strategy and Alliance for Prosperity objectives. S/he works under the direction of the Office

Director and Deputy Director. The total active DG portfolio value is over $40 million with an average annual budget expected to grow from approximately $15 million to

$45 million annually. An important proportion of these resources will be focused to mailto:ibrito@usaid.gov support the regional objectives of this strategy particularly in the RoL and human rights areas.

b. Duties and Responsibilities of the Position

The incumbent will serve as a Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) for justice sector reform programs with an annual value of approximately $10 million, and will support the DG Regional Team in the development of strategic direction and project implementation. S/he will provide technical guidance to program implementers, manage the design, monitoring, and evaluation of programs, and oversee the operations of program implementers working to reform regional justice system practices that are struggling to mitigate the corrosive effects of high rates of impunity.

The incumbent will also serve as a key USAID representative to high-level

Government of El Salvador (GOES), Guatemala, and Honduras officials, including the Attorney General’s Office (PGR), Prosecutor General Offices, Ombudspersons and the Ministries of Security and Justice; as well as civil society leaders and other partners. While the incumbent must clear recommendations through the Office

Director/Deputy Director when dealing with politically sensitive issues, s/he is permitted to, and should be able to, make sound, independent judgments with little supervision.

The incumbent must exercise excellent judgment in making decisions and recommendations requiring few revisions or changes on politically sensitive issues.

S/he must be able to judge quality of information provided by implementing partners and be effective in dealing with them. The incumbent must be able to listen to contradictory points of view and strongly articulate USAID policies and procedures.

The individual will have wide latitude in planning and executing work assignments, and therefore must exercise sound judgment in establishing priorities for numerous requests and selecting the appropriate course of action.

The incumbent will take overall responsibility for ongoing, established programs, and will also be responsible for formulating new strategies and approaches within existing programs. The incumbent will also develop strategies and approaches for new program areas in response to the developing justice reform environment within the

Northern Triangle countries.

The incumbent’s responsibilities will also include maintaining contacts with high-level local and USG officials, as well as with influential civil society leaders. This will require excellent communication skills (both written and verbal) in English and

Spanish, and a high degree of political savvy to successfully manage the interests of the aforementioned constituencies.

The incumbent will be expected to prepare memos, reports, talking points, speeches, presentations etc. As such, the incumbent must have a working knowledge of

Microsoft Office software (Excel, Word) including familiarity with PowerPoint.

c. Supervisory Relationship and Controls

The incumbent will report directly to the USDH Supervisory Democracy and

Governance Officer, Deputy Director or designee.

While the incumbent must clear recommendations through the DG Office Director /

Deputy Director when dealing with politically sensitive issues, s/he is permitted to and should be able to make sound, independent judgments with little supervision.

The incumbent will exercise those responsibilities delegated to him/her by the

Regional Contracting Officer in the COR designation letter. Once given the general framework within which to work, s/he should be able to perform duties with minimal supervision and within the Democracy and Governance Office team.

II. MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

1. Education

A bachelor's degree in a field relevant to development assistance, such as political science, law, public policy/administration, economics, or business administration is required.

2. Relevant Work Experience

At least seven years of progressively responsible, professional-level experience in the democracy and governance sector with a focus on rule of law and human rights programming (e.g. justice, civil society monitoring groups) required. At least five years of this experience should have been in development assistance-related work as a project manager for high-profile programs in conflict environments.

3. Language Proficiency

Level IV (fluent) English and S3/R3 Spanish. Excellent communication skills, both oral and written, are essential in English and Spanish.

4. Job Knowledge and Skills

The incumbent must be a recognized expert in one or more fields of democratic development and governance, preferably in the justice and human rights sector, and have in-depth knowledge of judicial reform issues and detailed knowledge of methodologies to prevent human rights abuses and protection of victims. In particular, s/he must have demonstrated an in-depth knowledge of human rights issues, with a particular focus on abuse prevention and protection methodologies, and have a thorough knowledge of democracy and governance concepts, principles, techniques, and practices. Thorough knowledge of monitoring and evaluation methodology and results measurement is required. Excellent English and Spanish communication skills, both oral and written, are essential.

III. EVALUATION AND SELECTION FACTORS

1. Education – 10%

2. Prior Work Experience– 35%

3. Job Knowledge and Skills – 40%

4. Language Proficiency – 15%

Candidates meeting the above required qualifications for the position will be evaluated based on information presented in the application and reference checks. USAID reserves the right to conduct interviews with the top ranked short-listed applicants. The interview will be one of the determining factors in the final selection.

IV. APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

All of the following information must be included in the application package in order for the package to be considered complete:

1. A signed cover letter of no more than 3 pages that demonstrates how the candidate’s qualifications meet the work requirements;

2. A Curriculum Vitae which, at a minimum, describes education, latest experience and career achievements;

3. A completed and signed USPSC Application Form, a302-3 (Offeror Information for

Personal Services Contracts), which can be found at the following website, https://www.usaid.gov/forms/;

4. Names, current and accurate phone numbers, and email addresses of three professional references that have knowledge of the applicant’s abilities to perform the duties set forth in the solicitation. USAID reserves the right to contact all references;

5. A signed written statement certifying the date and length of time for which the candidate is available for the position;

6. All correspondence and attachments must reference the Solicitation Number;

7. Application packages must be submitted electronically to ibrito@usaid.gov no later than 5:00 pm on March 22, 2016 (El Salvador/Local Time).

V. LIST OF REQUIRED FORMS FOR PSC HIRES

Once the CO informs the successful applicant that he/she has been selected and as needed, the CO will provide the candidate with instructions to complete and submit the following forms.

1. Contractor Employee Biographical Data Sheet (AID 1420-17)

2. Medical Clearance Form (DS 6561)

3. Questionnaire for Sensitive Positions for National Security (SF-86), or

4. Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive Positions (SF-85)

5. Finger Print Card (FD-258) http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001zobGIB-8t9z7dWWzLRFbKSgO4uH4rjhAZgSs_0q5-ZVdEY9eWaZLuLLX9HxvTHnk0JSTmclQOZDXn1Wr2DYRTk99vmeenofGuK44ANsvtVbf5vlWUi1SWPnQ1gesqKA3i7P3doWaDEo1hLA1FV4u0X0mLUyYfuVp1LuWGX-HSA9oVDHge_CvlvhqXLy7tJsOuv-09OkAueyPYOSKkyt-jA==&c=XGBw8O3t5GjBDVkvDnTSgIuGCm9b3X9J44NK8qa2TlXOKBOlvADS5w==&ch=XAUQIbvV0tfT3bR9WH_sWxo7cyPAJsf3MpIv-vSkmXREwQTyYVYicg== https://www.usaid.gov/forms/ mailto:ibrito@usaid.gov

VI. BENEFITS/ALLOWANCES

As a matter of policy, and as appropriate, a PSC is normally authorized the benefits and allowances listed in this section. [NOTE: A contractor meeting the definition of a U.S.

Resident Hire PSC, shall be subject to U.S. Federal Income Tax, but shall not be eligible for any fringe benefits (except contributions for FICA, health insurance, and life insurance), including differentials and allowances.]

1. BENEFITS:

(1) FICA Contribution

(2) Contribution toward Health & life insurance

(3) Pay Comparability Adjustment

(4) Eligibility for Worker's Compensation

(5) Annual & Sick Leave

(6) Access to Embassy medical facilities, commissary and pouch mail service as per post policy

2. ALLOWANCES (If Applicable):

Section numbers refer to rules from the Department of State Standardized

Regulations (Government Civilians Foreign Areas)

(1) Temporary Lodging Allowance (Section 120)

(2) Living Quarters Allowance (Section 130)

(3) Post Allowance (Section 220)

(4) Supplemental Post Allowance (Section 230)

(5) Post Differential (Chapter 500)

(6) Payments during Evacuation/Authorized Departure (Section 600) and

(7) Danger Pay (Section 650)

(8) Education Allowance (Section 270)

(9) Separate Maintenance Allowance (Section 260)

(10)Education Travel (Section 280)

* Standardized Regulations (Government Civilians Foreign Areas).

VII. TAXES

USPSCs are required to pay Federal Income Taxes, FICA, Medicare and applicable State

Income Taxes.

VIII. ACQUISITION & ASSISTANCE POLICIY DIRECTIVES (AAPDs) AND

CONTRACT INFORMATION BULLETINS (CIBs) PERTAINING TO PSCs

AAPDs and CIBs contain changes to USAID policy and the PSC General Provisions in accordance with USAID regulations and contracts. These documents can be found at this website:

http://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/aapds-cibs

Additionally, AIDAR Appendix D applies to PSCs and can be found at:

http://www.usaid.gov/ads/policy/300/aidar

USAID/El Salvador expects to award a personal services contract for a US Citizen commencing as early as practically possible subject to security and medical clearances and funds availability. The duty post for this contract is El Salvador.

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http://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/aapds-cibs http://www.usaid.gov/ads/policy/300/aidar